Calibrachoa plant named ‘Sunbelrikubu’

ABSTRACT

A new and distinct cultivar of  Calibrachoa  plant named ‘Sunbelrikubu’, characterized by its outwardly spreading and trailing plant habit; vigorous growth habit; freely branching and flowering plant habit; long flowering period; and purple-colored flowers.

Botanical designation: Calibrachoa sp.

Cultivar denomination: ‘Sunbelrikubu’.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to a new and distinct cultivar of Calibrachoa, botanically known as Calibrachoa sp. and hereinafter referred to by the name ‘Sunbelrikubu’.

The new Calibrachoa is a product of a planned breeding program conducted by the Inventor in Higashiomi, Shiga, Japan. The objective of the breeding program is to develop new uniform Calibrachoa cultivars with attractive and unique flower coloration.

The new Calibrachoa is a naturally-occurring branch mutation of a proprietary selection of Calibrachoa sp. identified as code number CRP4, not patented. The new Calibrachoa was discovered and selected by the Inventor from within a population of plants of the parent selection in a controlled environment in Higashiomi, Shiga, Japan in May, 2004.

Asexual reproduction ofthe new Calibrachoa by terminal cuttings in a controlled environment in Higashiomi, Shiga, Japan since September, 2005, has shown that the unique features of this new Calibrachoa are stable and reproduced true to type in successive generations.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The cultivar Sunbelrikubu has not been observed under all possible environmental conditions. The phenotype may vary somewhat with variations in environment and cultural practices such as temperature, daylength and light intensity without, however, any variance in genotype.

The following traits have been repeatedly observed and are determined to be the unique characteristics of ‘Sunbelrikubu’. These characteristics in combination distinguish ‘Sunbelrikubu’ as a new and distinct cultivar of Calibrachoa:

-   -   1. Outwardly spreading and trailing plant habit.     -   2. Vigorous growth habit.     -   3. Freely branching and flowering plant habit.     -   4. Long flowering period.     -   5. Purple-colored flowers.

Plants of the new Calibrachoa can be compared to plants of the parent selection. Plants of the new Calibrachoa differ from plants of the parent selection in the following characteristics:

-   -   1. Flower petals of plants of the new Calibrachoa are not as         rounded as flower petals of plants of the parent selection.     -   2. Plants of the new Calibrachoa and the parent selection differ         in flower color.

Plants of the new Calibrachoa can also be compared to plants of the cultivar Sunbelkubu, disclosed in U.S. Plant Pat. No. 10,279. In side-by-side comparisons conducted in Higashiomi, Shiga, Japan, plants of the new Calibrachoa and the cultivar Sunbelkubu differed in the following characteristics:

-   -   1. Plants of the new Calibrachoa were taller than plants of the         cultivar Sunbelkubu.     -   2. Leaves of plants of the new Calibrachoa were lanceolate in         shape whereas leaves of plants of the cultivar Sunbelkubu were         ovate in shape.     -   3. Plants of the new Calibrachoa had larger flowers than plants         of the cultivar Sunbelkubu.     -   4. Plants of the new Calibrachoa and the cultivar Sunbelkubu         differed in flower color.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE PHOTOGRAPHS

The accompanying colored photographs illustrate the overall appearance of the new Calibrachoa, showing the colors as true as it is reasonably possible to obtain in colored reproductions of this type. Colors in the photographs may differ slightly from the color values cited in the detailed botanical description which accurately describe the colors of the new Calibrachoa.

The photograph at the top of the sheet comprises a side perspective view of a typical flowering plant of ‘Sunbelrikubu’ grown in a container.

The photograph at the bottom of the sheet comprises a close-up view of typical flowers of ‘Sunbelrikubu’.

DETAILED BOTANICAL DESCRIPTION

The aforementioned photographs and following observations, measurements and values describe plants grown in Higashiomi, Shiga, Japan, under commercial practice during the late spring and summer in a polyethylene-covered greenhouse. During the production of the plants, day temperatures averaged 23° C. and night temperatures averaged 13° C. Plants had been growing for about four months when the photographs and description were taken. In the following description, color references are made to The Royal Horticultural Society Colour Chart, 2001 Edition, except where general terms of ordinary dictionary significance are used.

-   Botanical classification: Calibrachoa sp. cultivar Sunbelrikubu. -   Parentage: Naturally-occurring branch mutation of a proprietary     selection of Calibrachoa sp. identified as code number CRP4, not     patented. -   Propagation:     -   -   Type.—By terminal cuttings.         -   Time to initiate roots.—About one week at 20° C. to 25° C.         -   Time to produce a rooted young plant.—About three weeks at             20° C. to 25° C.         -   Root description.—Fine, fibrous; light brown in color.         -   Rooting habit.—Freely branching. -   Plant description:     -   -   Plant and growth habit.—Outwardly spreading and trailing             plant habit. Freely branching with lateral branches             potentially forming at every node; pinching enhances lateral             branch development. Vigorous growth habit.         -   Plant height.—About 9.4 cm.         -   Plant diameter.—About 44.4 cm. -   Lateral branch description:     -   -   Length.—About 20.4 cm.         -   Diameter.—About 1.1 mm.         -   Internode length.—About 4 mm.         -   Strength.—Strong.         -   Aspect.—Decumbent.         -   Texture.—Pubescent.         -   Color.—144A. -   Foliage description:     -   -   Arrangement.—Alternate, simple.         -   Length.—About 3.1 cm.         -   Width.—About 1 cm.         -   Shape.—Lanceolate.         -   Apex.—Obtuse.         -   Base.—Cuneate.         -   Margin.—Entire.         -   Texture, upper and lower surfaces.—Sparsely pubescent.         -   Venation pattern.—Pinnate; reticulate.         -   Color.—Developing and fully expanded foliage, upper surface:             137A; venation, 145B. Developing and fully expanded foliage,             lower surface: 137C; venation, 145B.         -   Petiole.—Length: About 4.6 mm. Diameter: About 0.6 mm.             Texture, upper and lower surfaces: Sparsely pubescent.             Color, upper and lower surfaces: 145B. -   Flower description:     -   -   Flower arrangement and habit.—Single salverform flowers             arising from upper leaf axils. Freely flowering habit with             usually about two open flowers per lateral branch. Flowers             not persistent. Flowers face upright or outwardly. Flowers             not fragrant.         -   Natural flowering season.—Plants of the new Calibrachoa             initiate and develop flowers about three to four weeks after             planting. Long flowering period; flowering commences             naturally during the spring and plants flower continuously             throughout the summer until late autumn in Japan.         -   Flower longevity.—Individual flowers last about seven to ten             days on the plant.         -   Flower diameter.—About 3.8 cm.         -   Flower length (depth).—About 2.6 cm.         -   Throat diameter.—About 7.2 mm.         -   Tube length.—About 1.6 cm.         -   Tube diameter.—About 1.5 mm.         -   Flower bud.—Shape: Cylindrical. Length: About 2.1 cm.             Diameter: About 4.1 mm. Color: 83C.         -   Corolla.—Arrangement: Five petals fused at the base and             opening into a flared trumpet. Petal length from throat:             About 1.4 cm. Petal width: About 1.7 cm. Petal shape:             Spatulate. Petal apex: Rounded with truncate tendencies.             Petal margin: Entire. Petal texture, upper and lower             surfaces: Smooth, glabrous; velvety. Color: Petal, when             opening, upper surface: Close to 83A. Petal, when opening,             lower surface: Close to N82C. Petal, fully opened, upper             surface: Close to 83B; color becoming closer to 83C with             development. Petal, fully opened, lower surface: Close to             N82C; venation, N79A. Throat: 7A. Tube: 8B.         -   Calyx.—Arrangement: One star-shaped calyx tube with five             sepals fused at the base per flower. Sepal length: About             1.3 cm. Sepal width: About 2.2 mm. Sepal shape: Lanceolate.             Sepal apex: Acute. Sepal margin: Entire. Sepal texture,             upper and lower surfaces: Pubescent. Color, immature and             mature, upper surface: 137C. Color, immature and mature,             lower surface: 144A.         -   Peduncles.—Length: About 2.5 cm. Diameter: About 0.7 mm.             Angle: Upright to outwardly. Strength: Strong. Texture:             Smooth. Color: 144A.         -   Reproductive organs.—Stamens: Quantity/arrangement: Five per             flower. Stamen length: About 7 mm to 12 mm. Anther shape:             Ellipsoidal. Anther size: About 1 mm by 1 mm. Anther color:             8A. Pollen amount: Moderate. Pollen color: 8A. Pistils:             Quantity: One per flower. Pistil length: About 1 cm. Style             color: 144C. Stigma shape: Transversely ellipsoidal. Stigma             color: 144A. Ovary color: 144A.

Seed/fruit:

Seed and fruit development have not been observed on plants of the new Calibrachoa.

-   Temperature tolerance: Plants of the new Calibrachoa have been     observed to tolerate temperatures from about 5° C. to about 35° C. -   Pathogen/pest resistance: Plants of the new Calibrachoa have not     been observed to be resistant to pests and pathogens common to     Calibrachoa. 

1. A new and distinct Calibrachoa plant named ‘Sunbelrikubu’ as illustrated and described. 